Rising Trend in Guest Nights Continues

Rising Trend in Guest Nights Continues

The underlying trend in total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation has been rising since June 1998, according to Statistics New Zealand. In April 2004, the trend level in total guest nights was 5 percent higher than in April 2003 and 7 percent higher than in April 2002.

Actual total guest nights were 2.7 million in April 2004, a 4 percent increase compared with April 2003.

In April 2004, the trend level in North Island guest nights was 3 percent higher, and the trend level in South Island guest nights was 7 percent higher, than in April 2003. In April 2004, actual total guest nights were up 2 percent in the North Island and 7 percent in the South Island, compared with April 2003.

International guests accounted for 1.2 million guest nights in April 2004, 15 percent higher than in April 2003. Countries providing the largest absolute increases in international guest nights were Australia (up 80,000 or 29 percent), the UK and Ireland (up 34,000 or 18 percent) and the Other Asian countries group (up 23,000 or 28 percent). Domestic guests spent 1.5 million guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation in April 2004, down 3 percent compared with April 2003.

Seven of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in April 2004 than in April 2003. The Canterbury region (up 55,000 or 14 percent) recorded the largest absolute increase in guest nights between the two April months, followed by Auckland (up 37,000 or 9 percent) and Otago (up 19,000 or 6 percent).

Three of the five accommodation types recorded increases in guest nights in April 2004 compared with April 2003. Hotels (up 63,000 or 8 percent) recorded the largest absolute increase in guest nights.

Ian Ewing
Acting Government Statistician
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